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21 So Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his donkey, then left with the Moabite officials.

Balaam and His Donkey Meet an Angel

22 Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the Lord’s angels stood in the road to stop him. 23 When Balaam’s donkey saw the angel standing there with a sword, it walked off the road and into an open field. Balaam had to beat the donkey to get it back on the road.

24 Then the angel stood between two vineyards, in a narrow path with a stone wall on each side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel, it walked so close to one of the walls that Balaam’s foot scraped against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey again.

26 The angel moved once more and stood in a spot so narrow that there was no room for the donkey to go around. 27 So it just lay down. Balaam lost his temper, then picked up a stick and smacked the donkey.

28 When that happened, the Lord told the donkey to speak, and it asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that made you beat me three times?”

29 “You made me look stupid!” Balaam answered. “If I had a sword, I’d kill you here and now!”

31 Just then, the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing in the road, holding a sword, and Balaam bowed down.

32 The angel said, “You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don’t think you should go to Moab.[a]33 If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live.”

34 Balaam replied, “I was wrong. I didn’t know you were trying to stop me. If you don’t think I should go, I’ll return home right now.”

35 “It’s all right for you to go,” the Lord’s angel answered. “But you must say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials.

King Balak Meets Balaam

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at the town of Ir, which is on the northern border of Moab. 37 Balak asked, “Why didn’t you come when I invited you the first time? Did you think I wasn’t going to pay you?”

Balaam’s First Message

2 After Balak had done this, they sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Balaam said, “Wait here beside your offerings, and I’ll go somewhere to be alone. Maybe the Lord will appear to me. If he does, I will tell you everything he says.” And he left.

4 When God appeared to him, Balaam said, “I have built seven altars and have sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.”

5 The Lord gave Balaam a message, then sent him back to tell Balak. 6 When Balaam returned, he found Balak and his officials standing beside the offerings.

7 Balaam said:

“King Balak of Moab brought mefrom the hills of Syriato curse Israeland announce its doom.8 But I can’t go against God!He did not curseor condemn Israel.

9 “From the mountain peaks,I look down and see Israel,the obedient people of God.10 They are living alone in peace.And though they are many,they don’t botherthe other nations.

“I hope to obey Godfor as long as I liveand to die in such peace.”

11 Balak said, “What are you doing? I asked you to come and place a curse on my enemies. But you have blessed them instead!”

12 Balaam answered, “I can say only what the Lord tells me.”

Balaam’s Second Message

13 Balak said to Balaam, “Let’s go somewhere else. Maybe if you see a smaller part of the Israelites, you will be able to curse them for me.” 14 So he took Balaam to a field on top of Mount Pisgah where lookouts were stationed.[c] Then he built seven altars there and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.

20 “My command from Godwas to bless these people,and there’s nothing I can doto change what he has done.21 Israel’s king is the Lord God.He lives there with themand intends them no harm.22 With the strength of a wild ox,God led Israel out of Egypt.23 No magic charms can workagainst them—just look what God has donefor his people.24 They are like angry lionsready to attack;and they won’t restuntil their victimis gobbled down.”

30 After Balak had done what Balaam asked, he sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar.

Footnotes:

22.32I don’t think you should go to Moab: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

22.41Balaam could see some of the Israelites: For a curse to work, the people or thing being cursed had to be seen.

23.14a field. . . where lookouts were stationed: Or “Zophim Field on the top of Mount Pisgah.”

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Luke 1:57-80

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When Elizabeth’s son was born, 58 her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.

59 Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands.[a] They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”

61 The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” 62 So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.

63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64 Right away, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.

65 All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things. 66 Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew that the Lord was with him.

Zechariah Praises the Lord

67 The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:

68 Praise the Lord,the God of Israel!He has cometo save his people.69 Our God has given usa mighty Savior[b]from the familyof David his servant.70 Long ago the Lord promisedby the wordsof his holy prophets71 to save us from our enemiesand from everyonewho hates us.72 God said he would be kindto our peopleand keephis sacred promise.73 He told our ancestor Abraham74 that he would rescue usfrom our enemies.Then we could serve himwithout fear,75 by being holy and goodas long as we live.

76 You, my son, will be calleda prophet of Godin heaven above.You will go ahead of the Lordto get everything readyfor him.77 You will tell his peoplethat they can be savedwhen their sinsare forgiven.78 God’s love and kindnesswill shine upon uslike the sun that risesin the sky.[c]79 On us who livein the dark shadowof deaththis light will shineto guide usinto a life of peace.

80 As John grew up, God’s Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.

Footnotes:

1.59what the Law of Moses commands: This refers to circumcision. It is the cutting off of skin from the private part of Jewish boys eight days after birth to show that they belong to the Lord.

1.69a mighty Savior: The Greek text has “a horn of salvation.” In the Scriptures animal horns are often a symbol of great strength.

1.78like the sun that rises in the sky: Or “like the Messiah coming from heaven.”

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Psalm 58

(A special psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune “Don’t Destroy.”[a])

A Prayer When All Goes Wrong

58 Do you mighty people[b] talkonly to oppose justice?[c]Don’t you ever judge fairly?2 You are always planning evil,and you are brutal.3 You have done wrong and liedfrom the day you were born.4 Your words spread poisonlike the bite of a cobra5 that refuses to listento the snake charmer.

6 My enemies are fierceas lions, Lord God!Shatter their teeth.Snatch out their fangs.7 Make them disappearlike leaking water,and make their arrows miss.8 Let them dry up like snailsor be like a child that diesbefore seeing the sun.9 Wipe them out quickerthan a pot can be heatedby setting thorns on fire.[d]

10 Good people will be gladwhen they see the wickedgetting what they deserve,and they will wash their feetin their enemies' blood.11 Everyone will say, “It’s true!Good people are rewarded.God does rule the earthwith justice.”